Coin hopper for telephone toll collecting apparatus



G. A. LONG Jan. 7,1936.

COIN HOPPER FER TELEPHONE TOLL COLLECTING APPARATUS Filed NOV. 15, 1933 47'7Z/PNEY Patented Jan. 7, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT *OFFICE COIN HOPPER FOR TELEPHONE TOLL COLLECTING APPARATUS George A. Long, Hartford, Conn., assignor to The Gray Telephone Pay Station Company, Hart- 2 Claims.

My invention relates to the class of devices employed in connection with coin collecting apparatus, more particularly as used in telephones, in which the coins are received. from the coin chutes, and an object of my invention, among others, is to provide a coin hopper into which the coins may drop and through which they may pass without danger of being wedged within the structure.

One form of a coin hopper embodying my invention and in the construction and use of which the objects herein set out, as well as others, may be attained, is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which- Figure 1 is a front view of a telephone apparatus equipped with my improved coin hopper, parts being broken away to show construction.

Figure 2 is a similar back view of said apparatus.

Figure 3 is a View in elevation, on enlarged scale, of my improved coin hopper shown as attached to its support;

Figure 4 is an isometric view of the structure shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a View similar to Fig. 4 but showing parts disconnected but in relative positions to be assembled.

Figure 6 is a view looking into the upper end of my improved hopper.

Figure '7 is a view in section on a plane denoted by the dotted line of Fig. 1.

Figure 8 is an isometric View of an old type of coin hopper.

Figure 9 is a view in section on a plane denoted by the dotted line 99 of Fig. 8.

In the accompanying drawing the numeral 5 denotes the back board of a set of telephone instruments having a case secured thereto and comprising at its lower end a coin box 6 having a coin drawer and. a coin return chute 8, the upper end of the case containing a coin chute 9 with a coin plate I0 into which coins are placed for travel along the chute 9. The numeral M denotes a hook supporting a transmitter and receiver l2 herein shown as of the monophone type. A table l3 within the coin box supports the coin hopper and mechanism appurtenant thereto, all of the parts thus far described being of old and well-known construction.

Coin hoppers heretofore constructed have been composed of several pieces, the hopper I4 and the coin tube l5 leading therefrom having been composed of a trough shaped front piece and a similarly shaped back piece It secured together as by means of screw bolts and nuts, as

shown in Fig. 8 of the drawing. The case IT for containing the coin directing mechanism has also been formed in two parts each integral with the parts l5 and It.

A slot l8 in the Vertical wall of the chute receives a pivoted trip finger, not herein shown, which is operated by the weight of a coin to effect electrical connections, such apparatus not being described herein as it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

In the use of this old type of apparatus much annoyance and difliculty arises from the fact that the coins become wedged in the seams between the different parts of the coin hopper and particularly of the coin tube, this being occasioned by the use of worn coins, as dimes, that become exceedingly thin, and this difficulty is increased from the fact that the nuts become loose allowing the seams to open to a greater or lesser extent in which such coins are wedged.

It is a purpose of my present invention to so construct the hopper and coin tube that this difficulty cannot arise, my improved structure comprising a hopper l9 and a coin tube 2|] together with a case 2| all formed of a single piece of metal, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawing, the bottom of the case comprising a coin directing plate 22 having integrally formed bosses 23 for the reception of screws as a means for attaching the structure to the table I3. This plate also comprises an apron 24 to guide the coins into proper position to drop into the drawer A wing 25 projects from the apron at about right angles thereto, and an ear 26 is formed at the bottom of the wing 25 for the reception of a fastening screw, said wing fitting flush within a notch in a wall of the case 2| and as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing. This coin directing plate is secured to the case 2| as by means of lugs 27 projecting into openings in the sides of the case 2| and as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawing.

From the foregoing description it will be noted that I have produced a coin hopper with the tube projecting therefrom and the case without scams or joints within which coins may become lodged, thereby preventing use of the telephone, said hopper and coin tube particularly having smooth unbroken inner surfaces throughout to efiect free and unobstructed movement of the coins through said parts.

I claim:

l. A case for a coin hopper and a tube rising therefrom and of curved contour in cross section, all being formed of a single piece of metal having a notch in one wall thereof, a. wing on the bottom fitting within the notch, the bottom having a coin discharge opening therein and. an apron adjacent the opening for directing coins therethrough and apertured bosses carried by the bottom to facilitate anchoring of the device in service position. 7

GEORGE A. LONG. 

